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Diamond Rings

In the beginning of our bike trip we would get up each morning and cook our breakfast.Usually oatmeal or some form of hot cereal.After a few weeks we started to get lazy and would ride to a gas station get a cup of coffee,then ride for a couple of hours,stop at a restaurant for breakfast.Besides not only having to cook ,it would break up the day.

One morning after riding for a couple of hours we came to a small mid western town.Most of these are all the same,you see a water tower in the distance and after what seems forever (on a bike)you get to the town.This is a few buildings along the railroad tracks,a grain elevator,bank,some kind of a farm store and if you are lucky a diner.This day we were lucky a diner was at the end of the main street,actually the only street.

The waitress that waited on us seem like she should have been in a I love Lucy episode.She was wearing a skirt and blouse that reminded me of Lucy.Her hair was up in rollers and was chewing gum.You could tell right off that she had been waitressing for a long time.I would say she was in her early fifties.She reminded me of my aunt Dot.when I was a kid.

After taking our orders she asked the usual questions,where are you going,where are you coming from,etc.But she also asks us why we were riding across the country.I told her our story of quitting smoking and taking up biking as a way to get some exercise.How we got addicticted to it especially the distance part of riding.How after a few small trips ,we decided to do the big trip.

I could tell she was impressed with want we were doing and after taking some other peple orders she came back to our table.She said she had a smoking story to tell us.Said that she and her husband have always been just poor working people all thier lifes.Both had smoke since they were kids.She said my husband was a wonder man and was always trying to buy her something nice for special occasions.Wouldn't you like to have a diamond ring for your birthday,or for christmas,or an anniversary.But she said that she always would talk him out of it explaining to him that the kids needed shoes or the car needed tires.Her eyes were getting teary as she told us this story.My husband die a few years ago,smoking related.After that I decided to stop smoking myself.I decided to put all the money I saved from smoking in a jar at home.When ever there is enough money in the jar to buy myself a diamond ring,I buy one.Holding up her hands so we could see them,she said.This way when ever I look at my hands I think of my wonderful husband.She was wearing five rings.

Thanks for sharing this story Vic. When Ralph and I got married in 1982 - everyone (including my parents) said this would never work- it was his 4th (bless him, his first wife passed away after just a few years of marriage and 1 child with 2 who passed as well) and my 3rd. I am very proud to say, in March, we celebrated our 25th Anniversary. To us, despite his cancer diagnosis last May and many other bumps in and along life's road, life just keeps getting better. Our latest is the loss of our beloved dog Buford on Good Friday. I am sure an answer will come - we just need to listen to the whisper. Life is what you make it - if you want roses you need to understand there will be thorns along the way. If you want mushrooms - well then you will be under compost or hay.......so it's all about what you make it and how you deal with it all.